# Surgery, sedation and the dentist

> Mounjaro’s, Wegovy’s and Ozempic’s leaflets ask you to tell your doctor if you’re due surgery under anaesthesia. The NHS says tell the healthcare professional about a general anaesthetic or sedative, at the dentist too. Zepbound’s label says tell all your providers before planned procedures.

Canonical: https://jabwise.app/guides/surgery-and-sedation. Sources checked 12 October 2026. General information, not medical advice: follow your prescriber.

## In their own words

Each source’s own line, quoted as written. The three UK leaflets use near-identical words, each naming its own medicine, as do the two NHS pages.

- **Mounjaro**: What it says: "If you know that you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia (sleeping), please tell your doctor that you are using Mounjaro." ([Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil))
- **Wegovy**: What it says: "If you know that you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia (sleeping), please tell your doctor that you are taking wegovy®." ([Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13800/pil))
- **Ozempic**: What it says: "If you know that you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia (sleeping), please tell your doctor that you are taking Ozempic®." ([Ozempic patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9748/pil))
- **Zepbound**: What it says: "Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking ZEPBOUND before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures." ([Zepbound prescribing information](https://uspl.lilly.com/zepbound/zepbound.html))
- **NHS (semaglutide)**: What it says: "a general anaesthetic (which puts you to sleep) or a sedative (which relaxes you) for an operation or dental procedure – tell the healthcare professional that you're using semaglutide" ([NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/))
- **NHS (tirzepatide)**: What it says: "a general anaesthetic (which puts you to sleep) or a sedative (which relaxes you) for an operation or dental procedure – tell the healthcare professional that you're using tirzepatide" ([NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/))

## Why they ask

- **Food in the lungs**: Zepbound’s label lists food or liquid getting into the lungs in surgery or procedures that use anaesthesia or deep sedation.
- **A slower stomach**: Zepbound’s label says it slows stomach emptying, and may raise the chance of food getting into your lungs in surgery.
- **Rare, despite fasting**: Zepbound’s label cites rare reports of aspiration on GLP-1s under anaesthesia or deep sedation, despite reported fasting.
- **At the dentist too**: The NHS includes dental work: before a sedative or general anaesthetic, tell the healthcare professional you use it.

## Questions

### Should I stop before surgery?

None of these sources tells you to stop before a procedure. They say tell your doctor, or the healthcare professional, that you use it. The NHS says talk to your doctor if you want to stop.

### Does it count for the dentist?

Yes, for a general anaesthetic or a sedative. The NHS names dental procedures, and says tell the healthcare professional that you’re using it.

### Why does it matter?

Zepbound’s label says it delays stomach emptying, and there have been rare reports, in people on GLP-1 medicines, of food getting into the lungs under general anaesthesia or deep sedation during planned procedures.

## In Jabwise: Diary

Your next dose, ready to mention. Coming Up on the Diary shows your next dose with its day and time, so it’s to hand when you tell the team. Dose reminders never name your medicine on the Lock Screen.

## Getting real advice

- **A pharmacist, your doctor or NHS 111**: If you’re not sure how to use your medicine, or a side effect bothers you or won’t go away. NHS 111 if you think you might be having serious side effects, or you’ve used too much. [NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/), [NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/), [NHS 111 online](https://111.nhs.uk/)
- **Report a side effect**: Anyone can, not only doctors. [Yellow Card (UK)](https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/), [MedWatch (US)](https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program)

## Sources

- [Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil)
- [Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13800/pil)
- [Ozempic patient leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9748/pil)
- [Zepbound prescribing information](https://uspl.lilly.com/zepbound/zepbound.html)
- [NHS: Semaglutide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/)
- [NHS: Tirzepatide](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tirzepatide/)